Online Social Networks and E-Commerce - MIT Computer Science ...

Clarence Lee and Shirley Fung
cookie is a piece of data stored on the user's computer tied to information about the user. We use session
ID cookies to confirm that users are logged in. These cookies terminate once the user closes the browser.
By default, we use a persistent cookie that stores your login ID (but not your password) to make it easier
for you to login when you come back to Facebook. You can remove or block this cookie using the settings
in your browser if you want to disable this convenience feature.
When you use Facebook, you may set up your personal profile, form relationships, send messages,
perform searches and queries, form groups, set up events, add applications, and transmit information
through various channels. We collect this information so that we can provide you the service and offer
personalized features. In most cases, we retain it so that, for instance, you can return to view prior
messages you have sent or easily see your friend list. When you update information, we usually keep a
backup copy of the prior version for a reasonable period of time to enable reversion to the prior version of
that information.
You post User Content (as defined in the Facebook Terms of Use) on the Site at your own risk. Although
we allow you to set privacy options that limit access to your pages, please be aware that no security
measures are perfect or impenetrable. We cannot control the actions of other Users with whom you may
choose to share your pages and information. Therefore, we cannot and do not guarantee that User
Content you post on the Site will not be viewed by unauthorized persons. We are not responsible for
circumvention of any privacy settings or security measures contained on the Site. You understand and
acknowledge that, even after removal, copies of User Content may remain viewable in cached and
archived pages or if other Users have copied or stored your User Content.
Any improper collection or misuse of information provided on Facebook is a violation of the Facebook
Terms of Service and should be reported to privacy@facebook.com.
If you choose to use our invitation service to tell a friend about our site, we will ask you for information
needed to send the invitation, such as your friend's email address. We will automatically send your friend
a one-time email or instant message inviting him or her to visit the site. Facebook stores this information
to send this one-time invitation, to register a friend connection if your invitation is accepted, and to track
the success of our referral program. Your friend may contact us at info@facebook.com to request that we
remove this information from our database.
Facebook may also collect information about you from other sources, such as newspapers, blogs, instant
messaging services, and other users of the Facebook service through the operation of the service (e.g.,
photo tags) in order to provide you with more useful information and a more personalized experience.
By using Facebook, you are consenting to have your personal data transferred to and processed in the
United States.
Page 46